The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has reported more and more incidents of abusive practices by businesses involved in selling or financing homes. Inattentive homeowners can find themselves in a recently purchased home that is not worth the amount of their mortgage loan or that contains property defects that were not properly disclosed. Either of these problems can ultimately lead to foreclosure. To understand more about these practices and learn how to protect yourself from predatory lending, contact an experienced residential real estate attorney.
Jeffrey A. Klein, of the Law Office of Jeffrey A. Klein in Daytona Beach, is a Florida foreclosure defense attorney who represents clients by aggressively fighting to save their homes and negotiating with lenders on their behalf. For more details about foreclosure and how it works, please visit the foreclosure process page.
Below is some general information to educate you about how the law applies in home ownership cases. For answers about your specific situation, please contact the Law Office of Jeffery A. Klein to schedule a free initial consultation.
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The Law Office of Jeffrey A. Klein helps people facing foreclosure by aggressively defending the lawsuit and negotiating with the lender on the client's behalf. When you hire Jeffrey A. Klein to represent you, he will seek to re-work your mortgage or negotiate a short sale or deed in lieu of foreclosure.
Are you facing foreclosure or behind on your mortgage payments? If so, contact the Law Office of Jeffrey A. Klein immediately by calling the firm in Daytona Beach at 386-492-9952 or toll free at 866-819-6032. Or, contact the office online, and a knowledgeable lawyer will respond to you shortly.
Home Improvements
Every year, thousands of homeowners take on home improvement projects, either on their own or with the help of a contractor. Home improvement fulfills many needs, from increasing a home's value to improving a homeowner's quality of life. A home improvement project can be a good experience, but there are many challenges and legal issues. A Florida attorney who understands home improvement law from The Law Office of Jeffrey A. Klein can help you have a positive experience so you can enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Deciding to Remodel
Remodeling may promise a homeowner their dream house, but if large changes are planned, it may make more sense to just purchase a different property. Significant changes to a home may also make it harder to sell. Homeowners should consider property value trends, resale value, and his or her own plans for staying in the area. It can be difficult to sell the largest, most expensive home in the area, and potential buyers may not be interested in the specific improvements the owner wants to make.
Paying for Home Improvements
Many homeowners pay for home improvements using a loan secured by a second mortgage on their home. HUD has a number of programs that may help finance home improvements if the homeowner and the project are included in HUD's guidelines. Many HUD special programs exist for repairs that meet the HUD criteria, including funds for fixer-uppers, loans for Native Americans, and rural home improvement and repair loans and grants.
Avoiding Deceptive Home Improvement Contractors
Many laws attempt to protect homeowners from deceptive home improvement contractors, but a homeowner must still be careful. Federal Trade Commission rules address the problem of false advertising, and vendors cannot legally engage in "bait-and-switch" techniques or advertise a product or service for less than it really costs. The federal Truth in Lending law protects homeowners who finance their projects. The Truth in Lending Act (TILA) also provides a "right to rescission," which gives a borrower three business days to cancel any contract that was signed at any location other than the seller's place of business and that includes any kind of financial claim to a home. State laws also protect homeowners. If a homeowners believes he or she is the victim of a dishonest contractor, he or she should contact an attorney at The Law Office of Jeffrey A. Klein to determine the best approach to pursuing any claims.
Dealing With a Contractor
Homeowners should ask around for recommendations from their friends and colleagues to find a good contractor. They can also speak with building inspectors, bankers, and trade groups about contractors who do the kind of work they want done . For a large job, a homeowner should interview and solicit bids from two or three contractors for the same work. The lowest bid is not necessarily the best, and a contractor with a good reputation might be worth a premium. Check references and the contractor's credentials, verifying that he or she has a current license and is bonded, before signing any agreements. In order to avoid liability, confirm that the contractor carries workers' compensation insurance. Also, ask about warranties on the work, check for civil judgments or lawsuits pending against the contractor, and put the contract in writing. The contract should include identifying information, the starting and completion dates, a specifically identified scope of work, a description of materials to be used, a statement that the contractor is responsible for all licenses and permits, and provisions regarding cleanup, storage, theft, damage, change orders, warranties, and progress payments. It is wise to make the final payment as large as possible, and not payable until all work is completed and approved, the subcontractors are paid, and any liens are canceled. A subcontractor who is not paid may be able to file a construction or mechanic's lien on the property. If you discover that a subcontractor has filed a lien, call your lawyer immediately.
Conclusion
Improving a home can be an exciting project, but a homeowner should proceed carefully in choosing a contractor and negotiating a contract. An attorney who is knowledgeable in the laws related to home improvements, such as those at The Law Office of Jeffrey A. Klein in Daytona Beach, can help you protect your rights.
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